Sunderland Magistrates' Court heard that he followed it up with another which used offensive language.

Peter Anderson, prosecuting, said it was in reference to Newcastle United's 'Toon Army' nickname.

The comments were made on January 17th and followed Newcastle signing Ba's Senegal teammate Papiss Cisse.

He was arrested after the journalist Colin George, who works for the Evening Chronicle and Journal, reported the tweets to Northumbria police.

Copeland told police there had been "banter" with a Newcastle supporter and his comments were an attempt to wind up the rival fan.

"He accepted he had gone way too far," Anderson said.

Copeland already had a conviction under the Malicious Communications Act, the court heard, but this concerned warning off an ex-partner's new boyfriend and was not of a similar nature to the racist tweeting.